Saint Alban

Saint Alban (died 22 June 209) was a Christian saint and protomartyr of Britain who was martyred during Septimius Severus' persecution in 209.

Biography
Albanus was born in Verulamium, Roman Britain, and, in 209, he met a Christian priest fleeing from persecutors and sheltered him in his house for a number of days. The priest, Amphibalus, converted Albanus to Christianity, and Albanus practiced the faith in secret. One day, an impious prince sent Roman soldiers to Albanus' home to search for Amphibalus, so Alban wore Amphibalus' robes and pretended to be him. The Roman judge told Alban that, since he had stood trial in Amphibalus' place, he would suffer the same punishments as him, but Alban complied, and, after he endured several lashes, Alban was sentenced to death by beheading. Alban was then taken across the River Ver to be executed; when the river proved to be too rapid to cross and the bridge was congested with those wishing to witness Albanus' martyrdom, Albanus was said to have prayed to God to make the river momentarily dry up so that he could cross and be martyred quickly. The executioner, witnessing this feat, laid down his sword and demanded that he be punished alongside Albanus. Albanus and the first executioner were then taken to a hill to be beheaded, and, when Albanus prayed for water to quench his thirst, it was said that God created a spring so that Albanus could drink. He and the first executioner were then beheaded, but the legend has it that the second executioner's eyes popped out of his head so that he could not enjoy the sight of Albanus' death. Albanus was venerated as a saint and as Protomartyr of Britain, and the site of his death was named "Holywell Hill", while the nearby town of Verulamium was renamed to "St. Albans" in his honor.